american sports

[SteveSC]

Yes and the Browns too, that just got fixed quickly.

Yep and probably any other team with ants in their pants or dodgy unsettled owners. Rumors were the Jags were approached by him too when he thought the NFL would block the Rams move and had told him the Raiders would never be back in LA.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Yep and probably any other team with ants in their pants or dodgy unsettled owners. Rumors were the Jags were approached by him too when he thought the NFL would block the Rams move and had told him the Raiders would never be back in LA.

Currently I'd say Rams, Chargers, Raiders, Jags and Bucs are the only ones that don't have a pretty strong connection to their current locations. It's very unlikely anyone moves outside of those teams this decade.

 

[SteveSC]

Currently I'd say Rams, Chargers, Raiders, Jags and Bucs are the only ones that don't have a pretty strong connection to their current locations. It's very unlikely anyone moves outside of those teams this decade.

The Chargers certainly don't belong in LA. Raiders are starting fresh it seems. But you know it was a good move. Its easy and cheap to get to Vegas from Los Angeles and Oakland especially with Southwest. given that locals in Vegas have wanted a team for years it might work out for them. Can't say much about the jags or Bucs. Florida is a mad one if its not the Dolphins or College teams.

As for the Rams they were in LA 40 plus years. They had full stadiums for most of those and success there. Sure, they were in Cleveland but they grew and had their longest stay in LA.

Their downfall was a disgruntled wife of a dead owner who had passed away. She took over and decided to rip the team out of LA because she didn't get her way. She made terrible moves with finances. She blamed everyone when her husband died. She increased tickets and refused to hire good coaches and so the decline started. LA nor Orange county trusted her and as their finances were tight they refused to build stadiums for her. Given that she had driven fans away too by trading good players and not caring that the team were losing so much. Fans boycotted the team. Can't blame them. She then forced a move out of LA.

The Rams and Raiders have the biggest support and always have in LA. The only reason the NFL would not allow the Raiders back was because of the percieved gang culture and violence at games.

It's pretty self evident based on the attendance at games. Even if they don't fill the stadium its still has 40k to 50k in that massive coliseum,

The reason they don't get more is the cost of the tickets. It's the main complaint from all of the Rams fans groups based in LA. Like the Raiders fans the majority of Rams fans are blue collar or older white collar folk living in an already expensive area. Hence the Rams reaching out to younger richer people now.

The Rams had more fans that traveled in from the west coast to St Louis when they were there than local support.

 

[TheBigIguana]

The Chargers certainly don't belong in LA. Raiders are starting fresh it seems. But you know it was a good move. Its easy and cheap to get to Vegas from Los Angeles and Oakland especially with Southwest. given that locals in Vegas have wanted a team for years it might work out for them. Can't say much about the jags or Bucs. Florida is a mad one if its not the Dolphins or College teams.

As for the Rams they were in LA 40 plus years. They had full stadiums for most of those and success there. Sure, they were in Cleveland but they grew and had their longest stay in LA.

Their downfall was a disgruntled wife of a dead owner who had passed away. She took over and decided to rip the team out of LA because she didn't get her way. She made terrible moves with finances. She blamed everyone when her husband died. She increased tickets and refused to hire good coaches and so the decline started. LA nor Orange county trusted her and as their finances were tight they refused to build stadiums for her. Given that she had driven fans away too by trading good players and not caring that the team were losing so much. Fans boycotted the team. Can't blame them. She then forced a move out of LA.

The Rams and Raiders have the biggest support and always have in LA. The only reason the NFL would not allow the Raiders back was because of the percieved gang culture and violence at games.

It's pretty self evident based on the attendance at games. Even if they don't fill the stadium its still has 40k to 50k in that massive coliseum,

The reason they don't get more is the cost of the tickets. It's the main complaint from all of the Rams fans groups based in LA. Like the Raiders fans the majority of Rams fans are blue collar or older white collar folk living in an already expensive area. Hence the Rams reaching out to younger richer people now.

The Rams had more fans that traveled in from the west coast to St Louis when they were there than local support.

I'd agree the Rams and Raiders are set.

Next team to move is either the Jags or Chargers. London seems ridiculous but Khan seems set on it. Chargers could do worse than going to Mexico City. Spanos doesn't have the humility to go back go San Diego which is the right move.

 

[The binman chronicles]

Currently I'd say Rams, Chargers, Raiders, Jags and Bucs are the only ones that don't have a pretty strong connection to their current locations. It's very unlikely anyone moves outside of those teams this decade.

The Rams and Radiers both with new stadia are unlikely to move this decade. Can't see the Bucs moving. The Jags could but only if they become the London franchise - is that possible inside 10? Not sure.

I'd place a big bet that the Chargers are back in San Diego within 10 though.

 

[SteveSC]

I'd agree the Rams and Raiders are set.

Next team to move is either the Jags or Chargers. London seems ridiculous but Khan seems set on it. Chargers could do worse than going to Mexico City. Spanos doesn't have the humility to go back go San Diego which is the right move.

Yeah London is not sensible. It's current format is fine but moving the team there permanently isn't wise. It probably wouldn't even get enough support fromt he other owners.

Mexico is a good call for the Chargers i have said it before too. Many of their die hards are Mexican immigrants or 1st or 2nd generation Mexican Americans.

I agree Spanos family are now past the point of no return. They are ruining that team. The press here cannot wait to see them play in the new stadium so they can point out the bleedin obvious to the spanos family and that is that they fecked up.

San Diego has moved on. They plan to rip the stadium down and rebuild a smaller one for SDSU and hopefully an MLS team if they can see eye to eye that is the two groups. The rate new homes are going up down here there will be no other land for them anyway.

 

[barneygumble]

When i visited LA last year, every person i saw in sports gear were either Lakers, Rams or Dodgers. In the airport, there were 3 items of clothing which were Chargers, the rest was Rams.

There is no connection the City. I'm not sure what the owner was doing, presumably trying to force the San Diego Council's hand to actually produce money for a stadium and it got too far? I don't know.

Question is, who gets the franchises? Jags are 100% in favour of a London move with Shahid trying to buy wembley last year, and his ties to Fulham. But what about the Chargers? The NFL didn't see St. Louis as glamourous, they don't see Oakland as Glamourous. Where is marketable? Mexico City? Toronto? I just can't see them wanting a Texan team, and is OKC a seller? They got Vegas, Miami and LA... London is coming if Shahid gets his way... so where?

 

[SteveSC]

There is no connection the City. I'm not sure what the owner was doing, presumably trying to force the San Diego Council's hand to actually produce money for a stadium and it got too far? I don't know.

They were told they could have the current stadium in San Diego redeveloped. They didn't want that. SDSU play college ball there and had a 10 year agreement too with the city. The Chargers got on their bandwagon to say a) it would have to be a new stadium and b) if not how could they because of said 10 year deal. Also the location is awful of the current stadium they occupied.

They later pretended they wanted a stadium in downtown San Diego knowing full well the city couldn't afford it and the only people that could vote on it were the people in the city most who are rich white retirees from elsewhere in the US and who could care less for the Chargers.

The Spano's family had always wanted to move the team to LA it turns out. Maybe for the last 10 years. The more people dig into it the more the find out just how dishonest they were.

 

[barneygumble]

Yeah London is not sensible. It's current format is fine but moving the team there permanently isn't wise. It probably wouldn't even get enough support fromt he other owners.

It'd be a disaster. Lets face it. NFL in the UK, is a novelty, and I actually think it's wearing a little thin. The novel idea of any NFL, isn't a sell any more. This year, they got super fortunate that Eagles were picked before winning the Superbowl. But most lineups aren't great anymore and i think the sell of tickets is harder. They are trying to push the Jags on people, which is great, but likewise, it's a hard task.

London is what? 200miles from Liverpool. I can't really back the London Jags every week can i? Beside that, I've supported the Jets for 20 years, and i'm sure i'm not the only one, who won't be changing teams in a hurry, infact i categorically won't. The novelty will last what? 2-3 years. People come from all over the country, but can't they realistically do it 8+ times a year to support them? Especially when some games won't be finishing til potentially 9pm with work the next day. It can't work, it shouldn't be a thing, but it will be.

 

[barneygumble]

They were told they could have the current stadium in San Diego redeveloped. They didn't want that. SDSU play college ball there and had a 10 year agreement too with the city. The Chargers got on their bandwagon to say a) it would have to be a new stadium and b) if not how could they because of said 10 year deal. Also the location is awful of the current stadium they occupied.

They later pretended they wanted a stadium in downtown San Diego knowing full well the city couldn't afford it and the only people that could vote on it were the people in the city most who are rich white retirees from elsewhere in the US and who could care less for the Chargers.

The Spano's family had always wanted to move the team to LA it turns out. Maybe for the last 10 years. The more people dig into it the more the find out just how dishonest they were.

The Spano's make the Johnson's of the Jets look like saints. I just don't see how in any way they thought they'd ever be successful, in a very obvious Rams' market? Spend all the money on a stadium, to what? Relocate to Mexico. Feel sorry for the local San Diego residents, cause they've been shafted.

 

[SteveSC]

It'd be a disaster. Lets face it. NFL in the UK, is a novelty, and I actually think it's wearing a little thin. The novel idea of any NFL, isn't a sell any more. This year, they got super fortunate that Eagles were picked before winning the Superbowl. But most lineups aren't great anymore and i think the sell of tickets is harder. They are trying to push the Jags on people, which is great, but likewise, it's a hard task.

London is what? 200miles from Liverpool. I can't really back the London Jags every week can i? Beside that, I've supported the Jets for 20 years, and i'm sure i'm not the only one, who won't be changing teams in a hurry, infact i categorically won't. The novelty will last what? 2-3 years. People come from all over the country, but can't they realistically do it 8+ times a year to support them? Especially when some games won't be finishing til potentially 9pm with work the next day. It can't work, it shouldn't be a thing, but it will be.

Ageed 100% with all of this. Like i said he won't get support from the other owners. Many teams hate going to London. Especially the West coast teams.

They only agree to it because they are obliged too. The NFL tie their hands on the issue and work their schedule to try work it in. Which is the main thing. How crazy would bye weeks be if there was two team there every second week.

 

[barneygumble]

Ageed 100% with all of this. Like i said he won't get support from the other owners. Many teams hate going to London. Especially the West coast teams.

They only agree to it because they are obliged too. The NFL tie their hands on the issue and work their schedule to try work it in. Which is the main thing. How crazy would bye weeks be if there was two team there every second week.

They'd have to block book it, which would be a logistical nightmare for the UK based team.
I just don't see how with the time differences and long distance fixtures will help.

What happens with the London team faces the west coast, and they get potentially Vegas and Los Angeles in one season? What if they advance to the play offs as #3 seed, having defeated the Chargers the week before? 11 hours flight to recover from and then expected to win a game? They can't host the game at 9pm to align with US Markets, so what? The AFC Championship game starts at potentially 10am for a West Coast team.

You're right though, each team has been over now (well bar one), and they're not willing to give up their home games. Chargers would prefer Mexico for travel purposes, and it's only really Jacksonville who consistently can't fill their stadium. I'd assume a lot of their catchment goes with the Dolphins and they are close to the Falcons. Bengals have been down, but who wants to go to a 2-14 season anyway?

I love going to the NFL in London, but it's a novelty, an expensive one at that. You buzz that the Jets get over every now and then, but when the stadium is full of people trying to get into it, it saps the energy.

Give me an 0-16 Jets and me in NJ anyday.

 

[SerenityNigh]

I love going to the NFL in London, but it's a novelty, an expensive one at that. You buzz that the Jets get over every now and then, but when the stadium is full of people trying to get into it, it saps the energy.

Give me an 0-16 Jets and me in NJ anyday.

NFL London and Mexico City are fine for once/twice a year PR blunders, but it's comical that permanent moves aren't fully dismissed. The Goodell NFL is tone deaf, and he risks ruining the league; even if he doesn't do anything to ruin the league, he'll be remembered as the commissioner at command when the NFL peaked, although his legacy won't be the peak but instead the downward trending.

 

[DanB90]

This thread fell off massively when people actually started discussing American sports.

 

[canuckblue]

Very interesting how the Packers are the only NFL team never to play in either London or Mexico.